KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open enrollment, college preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and life. There are 285 KIPP schools across the nation and the District of Columbia, serving more than 175,000 students and alumni with more than 15,000 educators. 

Founded in 2008 with 50 students in 5th grade, KIPP Columbus currently educates more than 2,000 students in grades Kindergarten through twelfth. With a mission to, together with families and the community, create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose -- college, career, and beyond --  KIPP has maintained excellence in its growth, and will improve upon that standard – proving what is possible in public education.

KIPP Columbus continues to see incredible academic results, including in our early literacy program where more than 80% of kindergarten and first grade students ended last school year reading on grade level. In addition, in our first four graduating classes (in spring 2020 -2023) 100% of students were accepted to college and/or military service and 100% graduated. 

In addition to academic excellence, KIPP Columbus also partners with nearly 100 community organizations to provide extracurricular activities, programming, health and wellness services, meals, and more to KIPP students, families, and the broader community. The KIPP Columbus learning campus will continue to advance student learning, expand partnerships, enable superior programming, and serve as a teaching and leadership lab for schools nationwide, reimagining education through a deeper lens of antiracism, excellence, and joy as we expand to educate nearly 4,000 students on our learning campus in the coming years. 

Interested in learning more about our school?  Please check out our website: https://www.kippcolumbus.org/

The Opportunity

At KIPP Columbus, our greatest goal is to ensure that we provide an equitable and excellent education for all students, as well as developing a talented staff to support them.  We are seeking a 6th Grade School Leader for the 2024-2025 school to lead our developing 6th Grade Academy, a year-long transitional program on the KIPP Columbus campus to prepare students for success in middle school and beyond. The 6th Grade Academy has approximately 200 6th grade students, and will grow to just over 300 students in the coming years.  The school-within-a-school concept provides students with strong academic and cultural support to ensure they are ready for the next level of education.  

Reporting to the Managing Director of Secondary Schools, the School Leader’s primary job is to cultivate an excellent school for our students. We expect our School Leaders to focus 75% of their time on instructional leadership, specifically all of the activities involved in leading and developing teachers to improve their instruction and drive student achievement. This role is ideal for a leader who is a self-starter, a strong team leader, and holds a high bar of excellence.  

School Leaders at KIPP Columbus receive:

• Professional development and personalized coaching tailored to individual needs,
• Access to a network of high-performing educators and support teams on our campus and across the KIPP network.
• Detailed career plan mapping and consistent analysis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure professional and personal growth. 

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Coaching/Support: 

• Support 6-12  teachers in planning and delivering high-quality instruction and culture. 
• Observe teachers and share feedback in coaching sessions.
• Lead, coach, develop and manage leader(s) in support of school-wide goals and initiatives. 
• Facilitate content or department team meetings.
• Provide ongoing instructional support and step in as lead teacher, as needed, to ensure students receive high-quality instruction at all times.
• Analyze assessment data for action planning.
• Plan and facilitate professional development.

Positive School Culture

• Plan and lead school-wide events, celebrations, and gatherings.
• Lead the development of student behavior systems.
• Embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion work.
• Lead teachers and students so that in all ways, we leave places, people and ideas better than we found them.

Strategic Project Initiatives

• Ensure alignment of school practices to school-wide priorities.
• Support day-to-day operations of the school, including regular data monitoring and progress towards goals.
• Model, promote, and coach others toward effective communication with families, cultivating engagement in their child’s success and the KIPP Columbus mission.
• Lead projects related to a specific content area or aspect of their school.
• Lead school-wide working groups to solve problems.
• Represent KIPP Columbus at external events and/or meetings.

• Four year Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of three years of successful, full-time, lead teaching experience.
• Minimum of three years of experience leading and/or coaching teachers, including but not limited to, roles such as Assistant School Leader, Dean, Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal, etc.
• Strong track record of results and leadership in a school setting.
• Experience in analyzing student data and using data to inform instruction.
• Belief that outstanding school leaders, staff, and teachers can achieve excellent outcomes for all students.
• Ability to persevere with a sense of optimism, strong problem solving skills, and desire to learn and grow in a collaborative professional learning community.
• Willingness, and commitment, to go above and beyond to prove the possible with students.
• Ability to multi-task and work within an ambiguous, fast-moving, start-up environment, while driving toward clarity and solutions.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Extreme flexibility, with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit to accommodate high levels of responsibility and multiple priorities.
• Model the values of KIPP Columbus (Imagine, Navigate, Seek, Persevere, Integrity, Responsibility, and Empathy).
• Administrative/Principal Licensure is (strongly preferred).

Compensation and Benefits

KIPP Columbus offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefit plan including medical and dental insurance, as well as group term life insurance, retirement plan and paid time off.  

Statement of Non-Disclosure

KIPP Columbus is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying to the school for consideration of any position (admission, employment, etc.). KIPP Columbus does not discriminate on the basis of disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 4112.02 of the Ohio Revised Code.